Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Minister for Works, Engr. David Umahi, has commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his administration’s collaborative efforts with the Federal Government to ramp up infrastructural development in Enugu State and South-East region.
Umahi made the commendation when he inspected some ongoing road projects in the state.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to completing the remaining sections of the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways and the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki road, which is being undertaken by Governor Mbah’s Administration.
The minister said these roads were very strategic to the South-East region.
“The Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu to Abakaliki roads are three very key projects that are dear to the people of South-East. And the president has given adequate attention and the Governor of Enugu State has also complemented the efforts of the president in the development of these sections.
“We have inspected the flyover at Emene NNPC Depot attracted from Mr. President by the governor, that job is ongoing and I can say that it is about 40 per cent done.
“I am happy that we are doing that flyover because the governor, on his own, undertook to do the daulisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki road and work is ongoing.
“So, it is a challenge to the FG, hence you see the people doing the flyover component of that daulisation, day and night,” Umahi said.
The Minister, however, frowned at the prolonged blockade of parts of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway from Abakpa Junction, Enugu, by the contractor, thus causing road users untold hardship.
“We saw that in Abakpa sections, over 3km is being blocked by RCC, which is the sub-contractor of MTN.
“So, we have agreed and I have called the contractor, that by Tuesday, if they don’t start work, we are going to remove the barricade. The suffering is just too much.
“We also agreed on the flyover components of Enugu-Onitsha that the governor has already concluded with the subcontractor working for MTN. We got involved for him to go ahead and fund it,” he stated.
Umahi equally commended Governor Mbah for undertaking the dualisation of the Abakpa Nike-Ugwogo-Opi Nsukka road as well as the completion of part of the Ninth Mile-Opi road.
“I also want to thank the Governor very highly, as he is also willing to do that 3km up to Opi junction on the Enugu-Makurdi road.
“He is willing to put the wearing course and I will allow him to do that if by Tuesday, RCC does not remoblise to site, because people are really suffering everyday,” he said.
Umahi and Governor Mbah also inspected the ongoing construction of a twin-bridge at New Artisan, at the Enugu end of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway where the Minister gave the contractors till October 2024 to complete the project.
“I have been here more than 10 times since the collapse of the bridge. The Governor went to see Mr. President and Mr President directed immediately for this work to be done.
“This work is being done by CCECC. I must commend them very highly for the quality of work and speed.
“This is the speed that Enugu Governor desires and he is also very happy with this.
“I want to thank the Governor that the moment we put a temporary bypass as he demanded of the president, he had to rebuild all the destroyed roads and I sympathise with him,” he said.
He said that due to paucity of funds, the FG would allow the Enugu State Government to complete the remaining part of the 61km road starting from Naira Triangle based on FG’s Highway Development Management Initiative, HDMI, which is a PPP arrangement, unless the contractors, DGC Nigeria, were willing to continuously finish the project within the next one year and get paid on milestones basis.
Speaking, Governor Mbah commended the FG’s commitment to addressing the challenge of road infrastructure in the region.
“We know that we are a common stock in the South-East. But we also understand the importance of building a common market, and that common market cannot happen if we do not have good roads.
“So, we cannot thank Mr. President and also the Minister enough for the tireless efforts and commitment they have shown in having our roads all paved,” Mbah said.
